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I was thrilled to join in on the Wish Upon A Star Blog Hop, sponsored by Carol of Just Let Me Quilt. The rules are simple enough: Your project must have a star somewhere on it. Mine does, and because of indecision it is not a finished quilt but I do have a plan for it.
Happily I am in! I will be sharing with you my “Sun Star” that I made in a Paula Nadelstern class. Paula’s last name means Needle-Star and in fact, this is very much what this star is.
In Paula’s class, she begins by walking you through drafting a star. I love drafting and don’t do nearly enough of it. The exercise in understanding how to make your piece is important. This drawing is part of the piece we used in class that day.
The beauty of this 2 day workshop was learning how to do it, not just making a block. We would be working with drawing some pieces and understanding the tools she has used over the years. There is the ruler, small and thin, with one edge a little higher. Use the lower edge for more precision (WOW! a revelation). Both her Visigrid* template plastic and the graph paper use 8×8 engineering grid. It makes it really easy to be precise. Paula also likes certain pens for marking the template plastic – Faber Castell Multimark 1525 permanent*. This pen is erasable, very helpful as you trace the elements you want to repeat on your fabric. The silver pen, Uniball*, for marking the fabric works on most colors and is very easy to use. You cut on this line, so you really don’t need to worry. Paula has used them forever and highly recommends them.
There is no way to explain all that we did, but here is a link* to her book, where you can learn it all! This one really walks you through the drafting and is a terrific reference.
Here’s how the magic happens. You make this template and mark registration “lines” on it in order to precisely cut out your fabric. Assembly is honestly pretty easy if you have been at this for awhile. The fabric must be bilaterally symmetrical in order to make this work.
We had to select the background piece that would make the star sparkle. Above you see a few tests of fabric.
And here’s a surprise…my friend and I used the same fabric. The design looks different because of where we fussy cut our fabric. It then causes one to choose different backgrounds. Pretty amazing.
My plan is to make another…. and have a small wall hanging with two of them. Maybe I should steal my friend’s block. There are also ways of doing it with fewer pieces (I believe these above square from one of Paula’s quilts is 4 pieces).
Don’t forget to visit some of the other “Star Bloggers”. Everyone’s interpretation is different – some are quilts, some are blocks – but they are all unique. And, there is a giveaway.
May 21
Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats
May 22
May 23 – Today
Adventurous Applique and Quilting
May 24
May 25
Kathleen McMusing <—you are here
Happy piecing,
Wow, very amazing. I will need to find my old kaleidoscope toy.
So glad it is motivating you to find your toy!
That is amazing!
Thank you, Kristyn.
Very neat piece
Thank you, Marjorie.
Very interesting piece. A wall hanging would look great.
I am anxious to get back to it.
Good Morning Kathleen,WOW – that looks like a great two-day class to take, giving you the background on how the block is made/constructed by drafting it! How intricate and I cannot believe you and your friend started out with the same fabric. Could those two blocks possibly look any different yet have something in common?! Fascinating and I cannot wait to see how this comes together when it grows up! Happy Friday! ~smile~ Roseanne
Thanks, Roseanne. It is really so different and so amazing. I am sure the one I make next will look different too. Sorry for the late response, seems like Blogger isn't sending me email notifications on my blog – great day to pick!
Thats an interesting star. Glad you had a good time in your class.
Thanks, Dorian.
Such an intricate looking result! Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure, Elizabeth.
It looks like an amazing class to have taken because those stars are gorgeous! The details in the star are so intricate. This will make a beautiful wall hanging! Thank you, Kathleen, for joining in the blog hop and sharing your shining star with us. My day is brighter because of you! :O)
Thank you, Carol. I loved the class and if you ever get to take her – do. I am glad it brightened your day!
Wow, awesome stars! Not sure I would want to tackle something that complicated, but I admire anyone who does. Thanks for sharing about the class and your amazing end result!
Thanks, Carol. I love having these techniques available, for whenever I might need them. It really is simpler than it looks!
Those are beautiful, I made a note of the book.
Thanks, Denise. It really does explain it all.
WOW. I admire Paula's quilts/technique and am pleased to know that you (and others) are following in her footsteps. Sweet.
It is a great technique. I don't ever see a large quilt in my future like that, but I do enjoy making the blocks and watching the magic.
It sounds like a really great workshop and I look forward to seeing another star and how you finish the project.
It really was, definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity. I hope to get back to it late this summer.
WOW! That star is amazing! Great work. So glad you joined the hop.
Thanks, Sherry. I am glad I did too.
I've always admired these stars! Sounds like you had a great time at the work shop too. Happy quilting!
Her stars are amazing aren't they? This is a little less busy than some of her kaleidoscope, but fun to do, and it is a star – what could be better.
wow, gorgeous. I have a book that shows this technique. I think I need to get it out. thanks for the inspiration
Definitely dig it up. Its a great technique.
Kathleen, thank you for sharing this. It looks like something I would love to explore. Beautiful star block and great information!
Thanks, Carla. I enjoyed sharing it.
Very interesting!! I've been amazed with those kaleidoscope blocks. Now you've taken some of the mystery out of them. They still look complicated though. Even just your one star would make a great mini wall quilt.
Yes, I agree, it would be a lovely mini! You would be surprised how uncomplicated it is. The prep takes much longer than the sewing.
Now that is just too cool.
Thanks, Joan. I loved the way they worked up.
Hi,the Kaleidoscope Blocks are so neat! Haven't tried them yet>your post will helpme get going! Thanks for sharing! msstitcher1214@gmail.com
I am so glad it will help you. Its a fun technique.
Oh that is going to be gorgeous when you are done.
Thank you! I do love it!
WOW great stars
Thanks.
My goodness, it's amazing to see two such very different stars from the same fabric. I'm looking forward to seeing your third block.
I look forward to watching the magic again!
Wow….that makes a great star. It looks so involved.
It is much easier than you think!
Too many points for me to tackle. Finished up to a nice block. I thought it looked good with the red back ground too.
I was honestly surprised how quickly it went together. A light box would help, too, which we didn't use in class. I liked the red, too, so it might go with the next one.
I love both finished blocks! Which is yours and which is your friends? Very pretty!
Mine was the one on the left. I can't wait to have time to make another.
What a fun and informative stop on this Hop. Love both the blocks and the background, thanks.
Thank you for saying so. I always like for my readers to learn a little something.
What a beautiful block. It looks so complicated. Thanks for the suggestions of markers to use. I am always looking for tools to make quilting easier.
It is always great to know the different markers quilters use. I could call myself a hoarder in that department!
So cool that you both used the same fabric, but had such different results! It looks like an interesting, fun process. I'm tempted to get the book. I used to use a ruler like that and loved it; it disappeared, so I assume someone else must've loved it too! Ha!
I know! It is just amazing to me how different the results are. The book is terrific and there are more options – so many blocks, so little time. Sorry your ruler went missing. We all started with those.
Wow great star very eye catching ty for sharing…. happyness04431@yahoo.com
Thanks, Anna.
I've always loved her quilts without wanting to actually make one. Your block and your friends are each stunning. I hope you get the second one made and a little hanging to remind you of your great class experience with her. Thanks for sharing so much of the process you went through.
I will get it done one day….I am thinking when the summer winds down it will bubble back up to the top!
Loooove the Blocks you & your Friend made..they are Gorgeous..and they do look different..but blend beautifully! Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Aren't they fun! I am anxious to see my next one – but it will be awhile.
I love your star, and your friend's!
Thank you, Anita, and thanks for commenting!
Both of these stars are gorgeous Kathleen. It's interesting how the different fabrics make the stars look so different from each other. Thanks for sharing so many details of this interesting project.
You are so welcome, Lisa. It was my pleasure.
Absolutely amazing!
Thank you, Corrie
Wow! Those are awesome! I have this type of star on my to-do list – I've been saving fabric for it!
That is terrific! You will so enjoy it.
Your star blocks are amazing!
Thanks, Cheryl. I loved doing it.